The Verve Hit #1 On The UK Album Charts On October 11, 1997

The Verve's Urban Hymns hit #1 on the UK album charts on October 11th of 1997 and stayed at the top spot for 5 weeks. While it did not have the same level of success in the rest of the world it did also chart at #23 in the US, #9 in France, #9 in Australia, #13 in Switzerland, and #18 in Canada. It has sold over 5 million copies world wide.

The album's most well known song is "Bitter Sweet Symphony" but it also contained the #1 UK hit "The Drugs Don't Work" which is the bands only UK #1 single to date.

Promo Videos For Urban Hymns Songs:

"Bitter Sweet Symphony"


"The Drugs Don't Work"


"Sonnet"


"Lucky Man"

Oasis' Be Here Now Was Released On August 21, 1997

Oasis' 3rd album Be Here Now was released in the UK 10 years ago today on August 21st of 1997.

There was considerable hype leading up to the release of Be Here Now with the huge success both commercially and critically of their first two albums 1994's Definitely Maybe and 1995's (What's The Story?) Morning Glory.

The album was recorded from October 1996 to April 1997. The recording sessions were were by all accounts completely out of control. The album's producer Owen Morris said in 2007 "in the first week, someone tried to score an ounce of weed, but instead got an ounce of cocaine. Which kind of summed it up." Creation Records owner Alan McGee said of his visits to the studio "I used to go down to the studio, and there was so much cocaine getting done at that point . . . Owen was out of control, and he was the one in charge of it. The music was just fucking loud."

Many of the songs contained many layers of guitar tracks. "My Big Mouth" for example had an estimated 30 guitar tracks overdubbed onto the song. In most cases the guitars recorded are the same part over and over again to create a wall of sound effect.

The album went on to set the UK record for first day (350,000) and first week (696,000) sales easily entering the UK charts at #1. It also sold 152,000 copies in the first week in the US but this was considered a relative disappointment. It opened at #2 on the US charts. It went to #1 in Canada.

Live performances of Be Here Now songs:

"D'You Know What I Mean?" (sound is a little quiet)



"My Big Mouth"



"Magic Pie"



"Stand By Me" (Acoustic)



"Fade In-Out"



"Don't Go Away" (on SNL, sound is quiet)



"Be Here Now"



"All Around The World"



Music videos for Be Here Now songs:

"D'You Know What I Mean?"



"Stand By Me"



"Don't Go Away"



"All Around The World"



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Garth Brooks Plays To 750,000 People In Central Park On August 7, 1997

10 years ago on August 7th of 1997, country music star Garth Brooks held a free concert in Central Park in NYC. Approximately 750,000 people attended the show.

The concert was also shown on television.

The following video is a performance of a song taken from that television special: "Friends in Low Places"

Radiohead's OK Computer was released on July 1, 1997 in the United States

Although it was released 2 weeks prior in the UK and Canada Radiohead's OK Computer was released on July 1st of 1997 in the United States. 10 years ago today.

The album peaked at #1 in the UK and at #21 in the US.

It has gone on to be one of the most critically acclaimed albums of all time. Pitchfork Media named it as the #1 album of the 1990s in 2003. Spin Magazine selected it as the best album of the past 20 years in 2005. NME selected it as the 16th best album of all time in 2003. The users of RateYourMusic.com have rated it as the best album of the 1990s. Time Magazine selected it as one of the best 100 albums of all time in 2006.

The track listing of the album (with accompanying videos of a live performance of that song.)

1. Airbag



2. Paranoid Android



3. Subterranean Homesick Alien



4. Exit Music (For a Film)



5. Let Down



6. Karma Police



7. Fitter Happier (They don't play this live (?) ... but I found a neat video that goes the album recording.)



8. Electioneering



9. Climbing Up The Walls



10. No Surprises



11. Lucky



12. The Tourist

Hanson goes to #1 in the US with "MMMBop" on May 24, 1997

10 years ago today Hanson's single "MMMBop" hit the top of the charts in the United States. It stayed at #1 for three weeks. "MMMBop" was also a #1 hit in the UK.

Hanson was (and still is) a band of three brothers. At the time "MMMBop" hit #1 they were 11 (Zac the drummer), 14 (Taylor the lead singer and keyboardist), & 16 (Isaac the guitarist) years old respectively.

Video for "MMMBop" (Yes this is the second time we've had the video for "MMMBop")

The Chemical Brothers "Dig Your Own Hole" Is At #1 On The UK Album Charts

Ten years ago today, April 20th, The Chemical Brothers second album Dig Your Own Hole reached #1 on the UK album charts.

Watch the video for "Electrobank" which is a track from this album. It was directed by Spike Jonze and starred Sofia Copola.

Paul McCartney becomes Sir Paul McCartney on March 11, 1997

10 years ago today, March 11th, former Beatle Paul McCartney became Sir Paul McCartney.

Sir Paul McCartney is arguably the most successful recording artist in history (in fact according to the Guinness Book of World Records he is just that.) which is of course exactly how he became a Knight! He's done a lot of good for the British economy.

Paul's one Knight who has taken LSD, listen to him speak about it. Well really he's speaking more about the reaction to him saying he's taken it than the experience itself which he doesn't get into in this clip. Also the sound is all off from the picture so close your eyes:



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The Notrious B.I.G. Was Shot & Killed On March 9th, 1997

10 years ago on this day, March 9th, hip hop star the Notorious B.I.G. was shot and killed at the age of 24.

He was shot in a drive by incident in Los Angeles, California. His killer is still not known but the shooting is believed to stem from the east coast/west coast hip hop rivalry of the times.

Biggie was born and raised in Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. His birth name is Christopher Wallace.

Biggie worked with producer Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs and was signed to Combs' record label Bad Boy Records. After Biggie's death Puff Daddy began to release solo albums and became known as a rapper as well as a record producer and the man behind Bad Boy Records.

Download Notorious BIG to your iPOD

"Hypnotize" was the last music video recording that Biggie was involved in before his death. It went on to become one of his biggest hits after his death.

Blur at #1 in the UK charts - February 22, 1997

Blur's self titled album "Blur" was #1 in the UK charts 10 years ago today, February 22nd.

This album featured "Song 2" which became the bands biggest US hit.

See and hear the video for "Song 2" below:



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